Mike Scioscia touted his bullpen as the best reason to believe in the 2014 Angels five hours before it imploded for six runs in the final inning of Monday’s season-opening loss.

The Angels manager was still waiting for his relievers to back him up after allowing two more runs in Tuesday’s 8-3 loss brought the bullpen’s collective earned-run average to an even 12.

Only the New York Mets could claim a worse performance after the season’s first two games with a bullpen ERA of 13.50 entering Wednesday.

“We’re a lot better than some guys have shown the first couple of games,” Scioscia said of his bullpen. “The depth of the back end is pretty good. … Our issue is going to be our starting pitchers getting us to a certain point in the game.”

To the Angels’ credit, the back end of the bullpen was yet to have a lead to protect entering Wednesday’s series finale with the Mariners.

Closer Ernesto Frieri and offseason acquisition Joe Smith, who posted a 2.29 ERA in 63 innings with the Indians last season, were mere spectators during an 0-2 start.

The parties responsible for the dismal numbers in the first two games were basically limited to Kevin Jepsen and Michael Kohn.

Jepsen allowed five runs in 2/3 of an inning of Monday’s 10-3 loss, an outing he labeled “maybe my worst ever.” Kohn was the other culprit courtesy of a two-run home run allowed in Tuesday’s ninth inning that turned a three-run deficit into five.

Bullpen help on way

Injured Angels relievers Sean Burnett and Dane De La Rosa each took a step closer to returning with a successful simulated inning each before Wednesday’s game.

Burnett, who hasn’t pitched since issues arose in late March from his offseason elbow surgery, threw roughly 50 pitches, only 16 of which were part of the simulated inning. Burnett’s frustration after pitching in just 13 games last season finally appears to be transforming to optimism.

“There’s steps along the way, but this has got to be the biggest one that I’ve taken thus far,” Burnett said. “To be able to come out of it, it felt good … and the swings they were taking, it seemed like the ball was doing what I needed it to do.”

Burnett will pitch another simulation at the Angels’ spring training complex in Arizona, while De La Rosa will begin an assignment with Double-A Arkansas this weekend in the hopes he’ll join the Angels on April 11.

Baylor update

Baylor, who broke his right femur catching the ceremonial first pitch Monday, was consulted about the lineup in Wednesday’s series finale with the Mariners and will continue to contribute moving forward, according to Scioscia.

“One of the biggest things with Don was his presence,” Scioscia said. “Don’s a strong voice and we really value his opinion and I’m sure there’s going to be some texting or some voice messages left with somebody on a daily basis.”

Clay Fowler is the sports features and UCLA basketball writer for the Southern California News Group. He has been working for SCNG since 2006, when he moved to Southern California from his native Texas. He was born and raised in Dallas and graduated from the University of Texas in 2002. He lives in La Verne with his wife and son. He is probably craving Chinese food right now.

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